In a move that has reignited fierce debate across the political spectrum, the U.S. Senate voted 51-49 on September 10, 2025, to table an amendment that would have compelled the release of the so-called Epstein Files—documents believed to contain explosive details about the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, his associates, and the alleged abuse of minors. The decision, which came after months of mounting public pressure and bipartisan calls for transparency, has left survivors, lawmakers, and advocacy groups demanding answers and accountability from both Congress and the White House.
The Epstein Files, shrouded in secrecy since Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in 2019, reportedly include interview transcripts, details about law enforcement raids, and—most controversially—the names of high-profile individuals linked to Epstein’s criminal enterprise. According to The Guardian and other sources, speculation has swirled around whether former President Donald Trump or his associates are named in the files, fueling allegations of a potential cover-up at the highest levels of government.
Yet for many, the heart of the matter lies not only in the pursuit of political accountability, but in the stories of the survivors themselves. Six survivors of Epstein’s abuse traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to share their experiences and urge lawmakers to release the files. Their advocacy has drawn attention to what experts and advocates describe as a pattern of "massive institutional betrayal"—a term used to characterize failures by institutions to protect vulnerable individuals, respond appropriately to wrongdoing, or act with transparency and courage in the face of abuse. As USA Today reports, such betrayal is said to cause measurable psychological and physical harm to survivors.
“The entire public needs to understand just how systemic and how far and wide and how deep this institutional betrayal goes,” stated Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), a member of the House Oversight Committee, after meeting with Epstein survivors. Her words echo the sentiments of many who believe the government’s response has been inadequate, and that true healing and justice require not just acknowledgment, but real action.
Calls for "institutional courage"—a commitment to truth, moral action, and accountability—have grown louder in recent weeks. According to research cited by Jennifer J. Freyd, Ph.D., professor emeritus of Psychology at the University of Oregon, and Monica J. Casper, Ph.D., professor of Sociology at Seattle University, institutional courage can buffer against the harms of both sexual violations and institutional betrayal. They argue that steps such as public acknowledgment, apology, and transparency are essential, and that responses to disclosures of abuse must be met with respect and concrete action, rather than denial or retaliation.
The political battle lines, however, remain sharply drawn. While some Republicans have joined Democrats in demanding the release of the Epstein Files, most GOP lawmakers continue to align themselves with President Trump, who has vigorously denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein. The likelihood that Trump and other powerful individuals are named in the files "in some capacity is strong, despite denials," according to USA Today. Trump was previously found responsible for sexual abuse and defamation against writer E. Jean Carroll, with a federal appeals court recently upholding an $83 million judgment against him.
Adding fuel to the fire, a top House Democrat, Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin, accused Trump on September 16 of "systematically dismantling" efforts to prosecute sex crimes and combat human trafficking. In a memo shared with The Guardian, Raskin charged that Trump had gone beyond refusing transparency around Epstein by "repeatedly taking the side of criminal sex predators and violent abusers against their victims." The memo further alleged that Trump’s administration had "dismantled the offices and programs we rely on to combat human trafficking and prosecute sex crimes," including the closure of USAID, which had been effective at tracking trafficking routes and fighting forced labor.
Raskin’s memo paints a stark picture: "By diverting extraordinary amounts of money and personnel to its immigration crackdown, the Trump Administration has undermined the investigation and prosecution of nearly every other law enforcement priority, including human trafficking and child exploitation." The memo details how about half of federal law enforcement personnel who would normally investigate criminals and terrorists are now focused on immigration enforcement, including one in five FBI agents and significant portions of other agencies. It also notes that hundreds of grants to local law enforcement and nonprofits aiding victims of sex crimes have been canceled, cutting off funding for sexual assault nurse examiners, victim advocates, and even American Sign Language interpretation for survivors.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers quickly dismissed the accusations as "total nonsense," instead shifting blame to President Joe Biden and his immigration policies. Rogers insisted that Trump had "totally secured our border to stop the trafficking of children" and "implemented tough-on-crime policies to hold these disgusting monsters accountable to the fullest extent of the law." The White House’s response highlights the deep partisan divide over both the handling of the Epstein case and broader issues of justice for survivors of sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 16, acknowledged "shortcomings" in the investigation that led to Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea on charges related to procuring a child prostitute. However, Patel maintained that court orders prevented him from releasing more files related to Epstein, a position that has frustrated lawmakers and the public alike. Democrats on the committee are expected to continue pressing Patel and the bureau for greater transparency and accountability.
The controversy has also spilled over into the House of Representatives, where a bipartisan group of lawmakers is circulating a petition to force a vote on legislation mandating the release of the Epstein Files. The petition reportedly needs just one more signature to succeed. Trump has dismissed the effort as a "Democrat hoax," but the House Oversight Committee recently released a "birthday book" containing a sexually suggestive drawing Trump allegedly made for Epstein—a move that has only intensified scrutiny of Trump’s past relationship with the disgraced financier.
For survivors and advocates, the stakes could hardly be higher. They argue that supporting survivors of rape and abuse should transcend partisan politics, and that institutional betrayal must be replaced with institutional courage. As Freyd and Casper write, "When survivors are listened to and treated with respect, and when abusers are named and held accountable, healing and justice are possible." Yet, when survivors are cast aside or attacked for sharing their truths—as happened to Christine Blasey Ford after her 2018 testimony regarding Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh—the harm is compounded and justice delayed.
With the Senate’s recent vote and the House petition hanging in the balance, the nation faces a pivotal moment. Will Congress and the administration choose transparency and accountability, or will institutional betrayal continue to overshadow the pursuit of justice? For the survivors who traveled to Washington and for the countless others whose stories remain untold, the answer may shape not only their healing, but the integrity of the institutions meant to protect them.
